Toothbrush with refillable dentifrice dispenser



June 8, 1965 R. J. EKLUND 3,187,758

TOOTHBRUSH WITH REFILLABLE DENTIFRICE DISPENSER Filed Jan. 2, 1962 Raul J E k/und INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,187,758 Patented June 8, 1965 3,187,753 TGUIEERUSH W111i REFELIJAELE DENTEFRICE DISPENSER Raul .I. Eirinnd, Lincoln Park, Mich. (1627 Lafayette St., Lafayette, Mich.) Filed Jan. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 163,656 Ciaims. (Cl. 132-8 4) This invention relates to newand useful improvements in toothbrushes and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of this character which is adapted to contain an ample supply of dentifrice in the form of paste to be delivered as needed to the bristles.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush of the aforementioned character comprising unique pneumatic means for discharging the dentifrice to the bristles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fountain toothbrush of the character described which may readily be loaded or filled in a convenient manner from a conventional collapsible tube or container.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a fountain toothbrush of the character set forth which may be expeditiously cleaned and maintained in a highly sanitary condition at all times.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a fountain toothbrush which is simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the fountain toothbrush constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale through the forward portion of the toothbrush, taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary View in vertical longitudinal section through the rear inner end portion of the toothbrush, taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG- URE 1, this view also being on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a view in transverse section through the head of the brush, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the front or head portion of the toothbrush, a portion being broken away and showing a collapsible toothbrush tube connected for filling the dentifrice chamber.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises an elongated handle 6 of suitable material, preferably plastic. The handle 6 may be of any desired shape and dimensions. Also, the handle 6 may be attractively colored if desired.

Formed integrally with the forward end of the handle 6 is a longitudinally elongated head 7. The head 7 is of substantially the shape shown and has formed therein adjacent the face 8 thereof a dentifrice chamber 9. Discharge openings 10 communicate with the chamber 9. Tufts of bristles 11 of suitable material are provided on the face 8 around the openings 10 for receiving toothpaste from the chamber 9. In the forward end of the head 7 a threaded filling opening 12 communicates with the chamber 9. A removable threaded plug 13 closes the opening 12. The opening 12 is adapted to receive the usual threaded discharge neck 14 of a conventional collapsible tube or container 15 when the chamber 9 is to be filled with toothpaste, as indicated at 16.

Extending longitudinally through the handle 6 from the inner or rear end thereof is an air passage or bore 17. The air passage 17 extends forwardly in the head 7 to a point adjacent the forward end thereof and is then reversed as indicated at 18. The air passage 17 terminates in a right angularly extending inner end portion defining a somewhat enlarged cylinder 19 which communicates with the chamber 9. It will be observed that the end portion or cylinder 19 extends at right angles to the reversely extending portion 18 of the air passage 17.

Mounted for reciprocation in the chamber 9 is a follower 20 comprising a plate 21. The plate 21 is provided with a combination guide stem and piston 22 which is slidably engaged in the cylindrical end portion 19 of the air passage 17. Coil springs 23 are provided in the chamber 9 for retracting the follower 20. Seats in' the form of recesses 24 are provided in the outer wall of the chamber 9 for receiving and retaining the springs 23.

Mounted for sliding movement in the air passage 17 is a manually operable plunger 25. The plunger 25 includes a rod 26 having mounted on its forward end portion a cup-type piston 27. Mounted on the rear end of the rod 26 is an operating handle 23. In the embodiment which has been shown, the operating handle 28 is in the form of a cylindrical knob or the like comprising a reduced forward end portion 29 which is engageable in the rear end portion of the passage 17 for frictionally securing the plunger 25 in said passage. An air opening 39 in the handle 6 communicates with the passage 17.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the coil springs 23 yieldingly retain the follower man the position of FIGURE 2 of the drawing. 'I o fill the chamber 9, the plug 13 is removed and the discharge neck 14 of the collapsible paste tube 15 is screwed into the opening 12. Of course, when the chamber 9 has been filled with toothpaste, as indicated at 16, the collapsible tube 15 is detached and plug 13 is replaced. To discharge the toothpaste in the chamber 9 through the openings 10 into the bristle tufts 11, the plunger 25 is retracted through the medium of the operating handle 28 and then forced forwardly. In this manner air trapped in the passage 17 forwardly of the piston 27 is forced into the cylinder 19 for actuating the piston 22. Thus, the plate 21 is actuated against the tension of the coil springs 23 for ejecting the paste in an obvious manner. By retracting the piston 27 to the vent 30 sufiicient air may be trapped in the passage 17 to empty the chamber 9. Also, if desired, a suitable check valve may be provided in the forward portion of the passage 17.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A toothbrush comprising an elongated handle, a head on one end of said handle, said head having an enlarged dentifrice chamber therein andfurther having dentifrice discharge ports therein communicating with the chamber, tufts of bristles on the head around the ports, and pneumatically actuated means for ejecting the dentifrice from the chamber through the ports, said handle having an air passage therein including a cylindrical end portion communicating with the chamber, the cross-sectional area of the air passage and the end portion being substantially less than that of the chamber, said means including a plunger slidable in the passage from forcing air therefrom into the end portion, and a follower slidable in the chamber behind the dentifrice and operable by air from the passage for ejecting said dentifrice, said follower comprising a reciprocable plate in the chamber, and a piston on said plate slidably engaged in said cylindrical end portion of the air passage, the air forced into the end portion by the plunger causing an outward movement of the piston and an ejecting movement of the plate, said means further including return springs in the chamber operatively engaged with, the plate on the dentifriceengaging side thereof.

2.'A fountain toothbrush in accordance with claim 1,

said head further having a filling opening at the forward end thereof opening directly into the chamber, and a removable closure plug threadedly mounted in the opening.

3. A fountain toothbrush in accordance with claim 2, said plunger including a rod operable in the passage, a piston on one end of said rod slidable in the passage, and an operating handle on the other end of the rod, said operating handle being longitudinally elongated and 'comprising a reduced endportion engageable in the other end portion of the passage for frictionally securing the plunger against reciprocation therein.

4. A fountain toothbrush in accordance with claim 3, the first-named handle further having an air opening therein communicating with the passage at an intermediate point.

5. A fountain toothbrush in accordance with claim 3 wherein said passage includes a first plunger receiving portion which extends substantially the full length of the toothbrush from the rear end of the handle to a point just short of the forward end of the head, a second portion of the passage exending rearwardly from the forward end of the first portion into communication with cylindrical end portion at a point centrally located relative to the chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 54,252 4/66 Knight 222-341 1,183,757 5/16 Obertop 132-84 1,409,725 3/22 Johnson 222-389 1,857,857 5/32 Medley 15-553 1,937,006 11/33 Aronson 15553 2,370,626 3/45 Heidernan 132--84 2,599,658 6/52 Perwas 132-84 2,665,442 1/54 Martino 13284 2,755,967 7/56 Anderson et al 222389 X 2,791,354 5/57 Martiz 222-389 2,971,518 2/61 ONeal 132-84 FOREIGN PATENTS 947,539 1/49 France. 607,850 4/26 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. LOUIS J. DEMBO, JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiners. 

1. A TOOTHBRUSH COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HANDLE, A HEAD ON ONE END OF SAID HANDLE, SAID HEAD HAVING AN ENLARGED DENTIFRICE CHAMBER THEREIN AND FURTHER HAVING DENTIFRICE DISCHARGE PORTS THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE CHAMBER, TUFTS OF BRISTLES ON THE HEAD AROUND THE PORTS, AND PNEUMATICALLY ACTUATED MEANS FOR EJECTING THE DENTIFRICE FROM THE CHAMBER THROUGH THE PORTS, SAID HANDLE HAVING AN AIR PASSAGE THEREIN INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL END PORTION COMMUNICATING WITH THE CHAMBER, THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE AIR PASSAGE AND THE END PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THAT OF THE CHAMBER, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PLUNGER SLIDABLE IN THE PASSAGE FROM FORCING AIR THEREFROM INTO THE END PORTION, AND A FLLOWER SLIDABLE IN THE CHAMBER BEHIND THE DENTIFRICE AND OPERABLE BY AIR FROM THE PASSAGE FOR EJECTING SAID DENTIFRICE, SAID FOLLOWER COMPRISING A RECIPROCABLE PLATE IN THE CHAMBER, AND A PISTION ON SAID PLATE SLIDABLY ENGAGED IN SAID CYLINDRICAL END PORTION BY THE PLUNGER CAUSING AN OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON AND AN EJECTING MOVEMENT OF THE PLATE, SAID MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING RETURN SPRINGS IN THE CHAMBER OPERATIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE PLATE ON THE DENTIFRICEENGAGING SIDE THEREOF. 